London-based Ultravox is one the most enigmatic bands of the 1970s and 1980s New Romantic Movement, a subgenre of electronic pop music characterized by heavy synthesized sound, sustained, flowing keyboards and vocal clarity.
If I Was, Vienna, Dancing With Tears in My Eyes Among Top Ultravox Hits
As with most songs of the new romantics, Ultravox tunes feature lyrics describing heartbreak caused by lost love or emotional turbulence. Dancing With Tears in My Eyes, laments “looking for the memories of a love that died” is a suitable example of the pain as is Vienna, which chronicles a walk haunted with memories of a faded love.
Ultravox soared to prominence in the late 1970s and emerged as the leader in electronic pop music in the early 1980s. The band had two distinct periods of success, from 1973 to 1979 with frontman John Foxx, and from 1980 to 1986, with lead singer and songwriter Midge Ure.
Foxx was a leader in experimental sound that crossed a variety of forms including punk, synthesized pop and glamor music. He left Ultravox to pursue his own interests in these varied musical tastes. Midge Ure assumed the lead role and he and bandmade Billy Currie took the band deeper into the electropop sound and into the limelight.
New Wave Songs Part of 80s Music Explosion
Ultravox was part of the new sound explosion that also included groups such as Visage, Cowboys International and Thin Lizzy. Like Ultravox, Visage and Thin Lizzy once counted Midge Ure among their members.
Scottish-born Midge Ure remains Ultravox’s most recognizable feature. Ure has since enjoyed a solo career marked by several number one UK hits, albums and a famous duet, Sister, with Kate Bush. He also co-organized Band Aid, Live Aid and Live 8 with Bob Geldof.
It would be the Live Aid Concert in 1985 that would showcase the possibilities of electrifying live performances for many studio-only artists of the electronic pop music and new romantic era.
Electronic Pop Revival With Ultravox Return
Ironically, the 2009 UK Ultravox reunion tour marks the first time since the Live Aid performance that the 1980s version of Ultravox has played together in concert.
The Return to Eden 2009 tour was announced on the band's website in November 2008 as “the most exciting Ultravox news in over 20 years” and begins April 10, 2009 with a planned 14 stops.
The Ultravox revival does not stop with the tour. Band member Warren Cann announced a Cover Competition,challenging anyone with musical ability to perform their best band over, best re-cover (interpretation of an original Ultravox arrangement), best cover in a completely unexpected style, best remix and best original, described as a piece which sounds like something Ultravox could have or should have written and recorded but did not.
The contest seems fitting for a band whose distinct and pioneering electronic pop songs of the 1980s are making a big-time comeback across the UK with its modern-day tour.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
